Musical tone modulator



April 14,, 19369 D. ANNESE MUSICAL TONE MODULATOR Filed Oct. 50, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY INVENTOR. fl0/7aZ0/7656 April 14, 1936, D. ANNESE MUSICAL TONE MODULATOR Filed Oct. 50, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I r I l I l l l l I I V INVENTOR. 90 f0 /7/76LS6 BY 9 fi ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 14, 1936 UNITED STATES EATENT OFFICE 5 Claims.

This invention relates in general to musical tone modulators and more particularly to a tone modulator for use in connection with a piano accordion.

The conventional piano accordion is usually provided with an ornamental grill that is as a rule disposed substantially perpendicular to the key-board and constitutes primarily a cover for the operating mechanism whilst the interstices therein permit the tones of the instrument to pass freely therethro-ugh without interruption or deflection.

The present invention is constructed in a manner as to provide the same general aspect outwardly as the conventional grill and is readily interchangeable therewith whilst in no way distracting therefrom as to the asthetic appearance of the instrument as a whole.

An object of the invention is to provide a highly eificient tone modulator for a piano accordion that can be readily attached to any such instrument in the place of the usual grill and to so effect the tone quality thereof as to subdue any harsh vibrant notes that may be produced by the reeds thereof.

It is a fact well known to musicians that the cheaper and less modern types of accordions usually manufactured abroad, produce a harsh tremolo effect which is decidedly unpleasant to a musically trained ear. Such instruments usually appeal to beginners on account of their lower cost since they do not want to go to any great expense at the beginning of their musical careers, but sooner or later as they become better trained there is born a desire for better tone qualities. Accordingly, it is one of the principal objects of the invention to provide a tone modulator of the type referred to that can be used with a low-priced, harsh sounding instrument and bring about the very astonishing result of a highly improved tone quality throughout its entire register such as will compare very favorably with the tones produced by a much higher priced instrument.

With the application of the improved device hereinafter more fully described, the inherent harsh tones of some instruments are either greatly modified or entirely eliminated. The resulting tone qualities have thus become pleasantly enhanced without any perceptible reduction in volume as usually occurs when mutes or gallery covers are employed for this purpose.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will be in part obvious from an inspection of the accompanying drawings and a careful consideration of the following particular description and claims of the several forms of mechanisms embodying my invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a; fragmentary perspective of a piano accordion with my invention applied thereto. Figure 2 is a detail bottom plan view of the present invention. Figure 3 is a cross section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Figure 4 is a plan view of a modified structure shown partly in section. Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective of the tone modulator element as used in Fig. 1. Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective of the tone modulator element used in Fig. 4.

With reference to the drawings, l0 designates the usual key-board of a piano accordion provided with the white keys I I and the black keys l2. These keys are mechanically connected to the reeds I3 in a manner well known.

The reeds I3 together with their operating mechanisms are conventionally covered by an ornamental grill much similar in an external appearance to the grill I4 shown in the accompanying drawings.

In the present instance the grill I4 is also provided with the usual side walls and the interstices I5 which are backed by a tinselled fabric l5. It is intended that the present improved grill take the place of the one originally provided with the instrument which constitutes simply a cover adapted to permit the tones to pass uninterruptedly therethrough.

My invention consists primarily of what might correctly be called a tone modulator and comprises preferably a piece of light cellular or nonresonant material I! of substantial thickness or several pieces of lesser thickness. The material that I have found most satisfactory is balsa wood and is shown fitted into the back of the grill l4. It might also be said in passing that I have tried experimentally with more or less success such materials as cork and other light cellular substances. This tone modulator l'! can'either be inserted into the grill with which the accordion is originally provided or it can be embodied in a special grill having a distinctive design as shown in the drawings and offered to the public as a replacement for the original one.

With reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5 it is shown that I have provided the tone modulator element IT with a plurality of grooves l9 which essentially provide a clearance for the reeds l3 in their oscillating movement during the operation of the instrument but they also provide passages for the tones towards the interstices 20 formed in the longitudinal side portion of the grill remote from the key-board.

With reference to Fig. 2 it will be seen that the tone modulator element I! can be secured to the grill by the elements 2| which can be either in the form of strips attached to the inner sides of the grill or they may constitute grooves formed therein.

With reference to Figs. 4 and 6 I have shown a modification wherein the tone modulator element Ila is provided with a series of openings 26 which provide tone passages towards the upper face of the grill. These tone passages can be covered or uncovered to any degree desirable by a slide 22 constructed preferably of celluloid and provided with similar openings 23 adapted to register with the openings 26 when the slide is moved to the open position. A knob 25 is disposed on the exterior of the grill and connected to the slide for the manual operation of the slide which is positioned between the grill and the tone modulator element.

Where I have described the invention in the foregoing as part of a grill that is interchangeable with the grill originally furnished with the instrument it is obvious that the tone element I! or Ila together with its slide can be offered to the public for insertion into the grill that came with the accordion.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention and portions of the improvements may be used without the others, Whilst not departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a grill adapted to provide a cover for a portion of an accordion, of an element of substantial thickness disposed between the intersticed face of the grill and the operating mechanism and adapted to produce a mellowing effect upon the tone of said accordion, said element provided with a plurality of grooves disposed on the side thereof opposed to the face of the grill.

2. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a grill adapted to provide a cover for a portion of an accordion, of an element of substantial thickness disposed between the intersticed face of the grill and the operating mechanism and adapted to produce a mellowing effect upon the tone of said accordion, said element being provided with a plurality of grooves extending transversely thereof on the side adjacent the operating mechanism.

3. As an article of manufacture, an accordion tone modulator comprising an element of substantial thickness formed of relatively light nonresonant material and adapted to fit into a grill forming an essential part of an accordion, said element being provided with a series of transversely disposed parallel grooves on the side remote from the face of the grill.

4. As an article of manufacture, an accordion tone modulator comprising an element of substantial thickness formed of relatively light nonresonant material and adapted to fit into a grill forming an essential part of an accordion, said element being provided with a series of openings extending therethrough which constitute tone passages.

5. As an article of manufacture, an accordion tone modulator comprising an element of substantial thickness formed of relatively lightnonresonant material and adapted to fit into a grill forming an essential part of an accordion, said element being provided with a series of openings extending therethrough which constitute tone passages, and means to cover and uncover-said openings to any desirable degree.

DONATO ANN ESE. 

